A 63-year-old swine flu patient with lung cancer and a 34-year-old swine flu patient with a history of chronic spinal inflammation have died.

The 63-year-old woman developed flu symptoms September 17 and was admitted to United Christian Hospital the following day. She tested positive to the virus and was prescribed Tamiflu and antibiotics. Her condition deteriorated and she died at 5.25am today.

The 34-year-old man developed symptoms September 18 and was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital. He tested positive to human swine flu and was prescribed Tamiflu, Relenza and antibiotics, and was put on ventilation support. He died at 6.45am today.

Class suspension

Meanwhile, a primary school and a secondary school will suspend classes for seven days due to human swine flu outbreaks affecting 142 students aged five to 16.

Twenty-nine boys and 34 girls aged five to 12 from the Salvation Army Ann Wyllie Memorial School in Eastern District, and 38 boys and 41 girls aged 11 to 16 from Christian Alliance SC Chan Memorial College in Tuen Mun are ill.

Two students required hospitalisation. All are stable. Eighteen have so far tested positive to human swine flu.

There were 677 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the 24 hours to 2.30pm today, bringing to 23,898 the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong.